#1737 State of the Resistance: Labor, Anger, and Knowing That We've Been Here Before

#1737 State of the Resistance: Labor, Anger, and Knowing That We've Been Here Before

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics September 16, 2025 Duration: 3:31:51
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
NewsCommentaryPolitics

Air Date 9/16/2025

Between recent Labor Day rallies and Republican Town Hall meetings, we're seeing that resistance to Trump's deeply unpopular policies is alive and well. Plus we're going to look at some historical legacies of resistance movements that can both inform and inspire us today.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: While We Were Out An Eye-opening Roundup of Everything We Missed or Wished We Had Over the Past Week - The Bradcast - Air Date 9-2-25

KP 2: How Labor Unions Shape Society Margaret Levi (re-release) - TED Talks Daily - Air Date 9-1-25

KP 3: This Is An Invasion - Pritzker, Trump, and the Union Coming Apart + Venezuelan Boat Attack - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 9-5-25

KP 4: What A Raucous Nebraska Town Hall Says About The Country's Mood - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-6-25

KP 5: Microsoft Is an Active Partner in the Genocide! Inside the Tech Worker Revolt for Palestine - Working People - Air Date 9-4-25

KP 6: Rules for Surviving Authoritarian Times - How to Fix It - Air Date 6-22-25

KP 7: We Are All D.C. Massive Protests Rock US Capital in Defiance of Trump - The Real News Network - Air Date 9-7-25

(00:53:35) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On what our history can tell us about our present political conflict

A Senator Just Unapologetically Declared the U.S. a White Homeland

DEEPER DIVES

(01:03:18) SECTION A: LABOR DAY

A1: How Chicago Labor History Teaches Us To Fight Fascism Today - Kat Abughazaleh - Air Date 9-1-25

A2: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Other Union Leaders Speak in Los Angeles at Labor Day Event - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 9-1-25

A3: How Chicago Labor History Teaches Us To Fight Fascism Today Part 2 - Kat Abughazaleh - Air Date 9-1-25

A4: How Labor Unions Shape Society Margaret Levi (re-release) Part 2 - TED Talks Daily - Air Date 9-1-25

(01:36:45) SECTION B: PROTESTS

B1: Rules for Surviving Authoritarian Times Part 2 - How to Fix It - Air Date 6-22-25

B2: 50 Jewish Activists Arrested Protesting Schumer & Gillibrand for Arming Israel - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-1-25

B3: The Resistance Vs. Trump 2.0 - Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast - Air Date 7-31-25

B4: Microsoft Is an Active Partner in the Genocide! Inside the Tech Worker Revolt for Palestine Part 2 - Working People - Air Date 9-4-25

(02:08:57) SECTION C: STATE-LEVEL PUSHBACK

C1: 'Digital Resistance' Volunteers Push Back Against Deportations Without Due Process - Morning Joe - Air Date 7-31-25

C2: Red-State Farmer Rips Republican At Town Hall - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 8-26-25

C3: What A Raucous Nebraska Town Hall Says About The Country's Mood Part 2 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-6-25

C4: Republican Rep Gets Crushed During Town Hall - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 9-7-25

C5: Our Top Priority with Rep. Brendan Boyle - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 9-4-25

(02:39:21) SECTION D: LEGACIES OF RESISTANCE

D1: Is America Becoming an Autocracy - On the Media - Air Date 8-29-25

D2: Heather Cox Richardson on Donald Trump, MAGA and How We Fight Back - Pod Save America - Air Date 9-7-25

D3: The Resistance Vs. Trump 2.0 Part 2 - Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast - Air Date 7-31-25

D4: Social Problems Require Social Movement Solutions - Economic Update with Richard Wolff - Air Date 9-2-25

D5: Jane Fonda Is Not Backing Down - Fresh Air - Air Date 9-2-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Photo from the Labor Day rally in Boston depicting Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren holding a "Workers" banner with other participants. Tall, vertical rally flags are held behind them that say "Justice", "Solidarity," "Fairness," "Security," and "Freedom"

Credit: Internal photo. "Boston Labor Day Rally" | Copyright 2025, Best of the Left, All rights reserved.

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
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